Letter to Harikesa Maharaja from the Executive Committee of the GBC

[Guest guest]

Executive Committee of the Governing Body Commission

International Society for Krishna Consciousness

 

 

August 12, 1998

 

Dear Harikesa Maharaja,

 

Please accept our humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada!

 

We have a deep and abiding affection for you as our Godbrother and great

admiration and appreciation for all the wonderful service you have done for

Srila Prabhupada and his movement. We deeply empathize with you, our friend

and fellow devotee, in the struggle that you are presently undertaking.

 

Somehow the events of the last couple of months have brought us all here to

Abentheuer and left us with some difficult decisions to make. Over the last

week we have deliberated with as much consideration and introspection at our

command about your current situation, the subsequent effects within our

Society and the way to proceed ahead.

 

With all the many factors involved regarding both your personal and the

Society's needs we have arrived at certain conclusions which, due to the

great confusion and potentially serious problems that have arisen, we feel

must now be presented to the general body of devotees. Devotees and your

disciples around the world are demanding clear direction from the GBC and we

feel we can no longer delay giving this.

 

Consequently we have, according to the guidelines of ISKCON law under which

we are constrained, decided that for the time being your official managerial

functions as a GBC, Property Trustee and SMPDC Chairman should be suspended.

In your meeting with Sesa Prabhu last week you declined to offer your

resignation or accept a leave of absence. We appreciate that a resignation

was perhaps too drastic for you to contemplate, and at the same time, from

our side, removal from your designated duties is too drastic a step for us

 

to contemplate. Suspension therefore seems the best option since this gives

you time to adjust without pressure to perform according to the demands of

duty and simultaneously it keeps open the hope and possibility that you will

take up your services once your balance is established and your health and

strength restored.

 

As far as your position as an ISKCON guru is concerned, again, out of the

many options for us to consider we felt that a probationary period is best

suited to your current situation. Clearly with your changing expressions and

ideas, it is too confusing and disturbing for your disciples to follow your

instructions at this time. However, again we feel that given some time, you

may once again be able to resume this service and this decision allows for

this.

 

We are enclosing herewith the documents pertaining to the EC's decision.

 

We have done our best to be as sensitive as we can to your personal need for

time and space to yourself to bring some order to your life after the great

emotional upheavals of the last two months. This has been a painful and

confusing time for all of us and we recognize that this period of major

adjustment is not yet over for you. We want to sincerely express our

heartfelt feelings that you come out of this a better and more caring,

sensitive and stronger person than you went in, with renewed determination

to serve Srila Prabhupada and his ISKCON movement. We feel you have great

service still to perform for Srila Prabhupada and the devotees in general

and we pray to Sri Sri Radha Madhava that we can continue to work happily

and unitedly together for our common goals.

 

We remain your humble servants in the service of Srila Prabhupada,

 

 

 

For the Executive Committee of the GBC

Ravindra Svarupa Dasa, Badrinarayana Dasa, Sesa Dasa and Akhandadhi Dasa.